Delta farmers voice resentment via poor turnout for Kaala

Coordinator of Federation of All Tamil Nadu Farmers Unions PR Pandian noted that the lacklustre show in delta region was natural and a conscious shift by the citizens of the region to take sides with its soil. “His apology to the people of Karnataka that what he said was what the Supreme Court had dictated already and his branding of the victims of Thoothukudi police firing which claimed 13 lives as anti-socials, have angered the people to reject him. It is nothing short of an informed choice by the people and this would stand as much as against anyone who is against the people of the state,” Pandian said.

Echoing Pandian’s views, coordinator of Cauvery Rights Retrieval Committee P Maniarasan noted that they had indeed given petitions against the screening of the movie ahead of the release.

“Rajinikanth has never voiced for the people of the state like he sounds out his apology to his Kannada ‘bandus’ who damaged the property.

He has never appealed to such ‘brothers’ when they burnt a fleet of buses from Tamil Nadu and beaten up every Tamil they came across,” Maniarasan said. “This trend against Rajini would continue,” he said.

Just as Kaala was due to release last week, the superstar endorsed Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan reaching out to Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy which, sources said, bridled the farmers in the state further against Rajinikanth.

However, sources from the film fraternity claimed that the movie has done well across all regions in the state even as they admitted to their fears of the movie becoming a box-office disaster were proved wrong. The movie reportedly grossed about Rs 35 crore since release in Tamil Nadu alone.

Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association’s functionary S Sridhar observed that they were sceptical about the box-office initially but were thrilled to see the turnout on Saturday and Sunday. “The movie would go on to become a success if this trend continues,” the Tiruchy-based man said contradicting the farmers’ views.